Frame shelf



y1 ..'1929. v R. EMLLE 1,713,295.

Q FRAME SHELF Filed April 1, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 an I I.

- INVEN OR ATTORN May 14,1929.

R. E. MILLER FRAME SHELF Filed April 1, 1927 2 Sheets-Shet 2 ATTORNEY Patented May 14, 1929.

"UNITED? STAT:

ROBERT E. ,nI LEa, or isnoNxvILLE, New YORK;

' :ZERAM'ZE SHELF.

7 Application filed April 1,

My present invention relates generally to shelves, andhas particular reference to that type of shelf whichis of-a generallyframelike andcollapsible'structureto permit easy shipment and employment thereof. a v r One object of the inventionlies in .provid ing a shelf of this-general-icharacter where- Y in certain structural features greatly increas'e'the' staunchness'and durability of the shelf.

Anotherobject of the invention is to pro vide a shelf having an extension armed justably'associated therewithiin a manner whichpermits varied positioning of the shelf withrespect to a suitable support.

AlthoughI have illustrated and shall hereinafter describe my invention in connection with a self of the; character mentioned, nevertheless it will be understood that (as to certain phases of my invention-an application of this characteris' not essential, nu-

I merous features of my invention I relating more broadly to any type of supported struc- "ture of the same general characteristics The type of shelf with which my invention Y is particularly applicable, comprises briefly a back frameand a shelf frame collapsibly arranged with-respect theretoj The back frame is designed for applicationto awall or the like, and the shelf franie is so designed that when collapsed the entire device may be shipped in compact form and when opened the shelf frame maybe caused to engage with the back frame in a suitable and eflicient mantension for the frame It is one object of the invention to-provide an extension arm,

which is so constructed and arranged as to be adjustably asso'ciablewith' the -upright ward "relationship, the upward relatioinshi 'a "providing" a supporting extension and-the V downward relationshippermitting the arm,- tocooperate with the upright'frame element] V I H H lsential elements ofashelf, 'with partsbroken away for thesake of clearness;

.to'b'race the latter.

In one form of my invention, the extension arm is pivotally associated with the upright frame element and is provided at its free end with a transverse portion'whichlmay assume the form of a hook or the likeL-uI'n this embodiment, the-arm is soar-ranged and respect to the frame. a V I j, v V In the embodiment prevlou'sl-y,mentioned,

the transverse free end portion servesalso foregoing objects of .jmv'en,

spect to the point of support.

frame element either in an upward or downvice;

PATENT or FIVCE constructed withrespect to tlie framel ele ment that when swung downwardly into relatively close relationshi p rw'ith respect to the frameelement, the free end portion will ter.

cooperate withithe element .to brace the'lat Another object'of my inventionlies the provision of means for retaining an adjustable extension arm in secure IelatiVQPO- sition with respect to the frame, when the arm is collapsed; and also is providing' an extension arm will be effected in a compact mannen Inthis way,-the' shipment of the more, in'casesiwhere the; extension arm is not 7 arrangement wherein. the collapsing of the device -is greatly facilitated, and gfurtherput to use,;it may be causedto remain. in;

compact form and neat relationship with to fulfill the tion.

In another embodiment, I provide-an entirely independent and separateextension arm, such an arm, being so constructed with respect to the balance ofthe frame as to, per- Init removable association therewith ,in

either an-upward or downward relationship,

In this'embodiment, the foregoing features of my invention are retained, and additional 1 further increasing the staunchness, 0f the construction, and also in the lpossibility 'of providing still further variations with remanufacture, but which embodies extremely features arerenderedpossible; These addi tionalfeatures'lie'in the possibilityof H high qualities of'fi-rmnessstIength, and flexibility-of use. a I v j v For the attainmentofthe foregoing objects and such other objects asmayhereinafter' ap- Pointed ve iuustraedem bodiments' my vention in; the accom an ,l nseinwhm A r r.

- Fig- 1 isa front elevational eslines.v the general collapsible-nature of the ee- [Fig 2 isan' end e'levational view structure shown in-llig. 1, showingin dotted 7 an independent extension arm for association therewith and Fig. (Sis a fragmentary end view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating the modified formof Fig.

' 5 with the extension arm in collapsed position. V

Referringnow to Figs-f1, 2, and 3, I hav illustrated a frame shelf wherein the back frame comprises afbottom frame element 10, a top, frame element 11, side frame elements 12 and 13,andstruts Hand-15 extending between the bottom andtop elements 10 and 11. This figure illustratesone feature of my invention, and it will be Observed that the elements 12, '13, 14k and lecomprise struts which arearranged in non-parallel arrangement. *Itwillbe-observed that the pairs of struts 13,15,- and 12, let, each extend downwardly from adjacent hut spaced points on thetop-frame'element1 1. Moreparticularly,

referring tot-he elements 12 and 1%, it will be noted that these-elements extend downwardly from the points 16 and 17 respectively. The purpose ofthis constructionwill be presently described. l 1

In Fig. 2", the generaldispositionof the shelf. frame is shown, and this frame comprises'briefly two-side; elements 18 and a series of properly; arranged longitudinalelements 19. Adjacent to the outer 'ends of the side i elements 18 are arranged pivotal strutsor supports 20 which extendrearwardl and downwardly intopivotal association u-iththebottom frame element 10. The rear portions ofthe side elements 18ers constructed toprovidehooks'21 adaptedto engage over predeadjacentpointstypified loythe points 16 and v 17, an engagement of thischaracter lending great strength and staunchness to =the assenr' 'bledTlVlCB.

The dottedlines in Fig.2 indicate the generalcharacterofthedevice, itbeing observed 3 that duringshipmentthe device may be collapsed by releasing thehooks 21 pivoting1the shelf frame downwardly and rearwardly, and "swinging theelemen'ts 20 upwardly so as to collapse theentiredevice.

element 13 illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, it will be observed thatits=upper end extends slightly beyond the shelf frame and is provided with an'opening 22 adaptedto receive'a-screw or other fastening element 23. In one employment'of the device, theffastening elements err- .tending through the openings 22 serve to support the entire deviceupon a wall.

Slightly below'the upper end of the side element 13 is a rivet 24 or the like designed for the purpose of associatmg the element 13 with the top element 11, and also to provide a pivot point for the extension arm 25. In

accordance with the present invention,- the arm 25 is arranged upon the forward surface of the element 13, the arrangement ele ,ments uponthe rivet 24 being thus, from rear to front. 13,225, and 11.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, thearm 25 1s pivoted at one end to the element 13, i. e., at-the rivet 24, ahd the free endof the arm 25 is provided with a transverse hooked end portion 26 extending rearwardly from the arm 25. .The end portion 26 serves to support thoentire device from a relatively higher point, when employment of the openlngs 22 1s UlldGSlTGCl; In thisway,

the arm 25, whenup, provides a supporting extension'for the back frame and for the en- 7 tire device. I i 1 The arm 26 is of such a length that when it is swung downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3, the free end portion 26 will lie adjacent to the free lower end portion of the element 13. The arm 25 will ofcourse tend to assume a perfectly vertical position when it is swung downwardly, but by arranging it upon the forward surface of the element 13,I am enabled to swing the arm' outwardly and cause the end portion 26to brace itself against the lower forward surface ofthe element 13'. In Fig. '3, the arm 25 is of'such a length that this bracing will occur against the rivet 27, connecting the frame-13 and the lower frame element 10. As a result of this manipulation, a rigid end structure is providedconstituted of the tri angle formed by the element 13, the arin25, 1 and the end 26. Thearm'25 is resiliently and termined portions of the topelement 1 1. In accordance with the present invention, these hooks 21are so arranged asto engage respectively: in the spaces between the spaced but frictionally tbraced with respectto the element 13, and will tend to hold the entire baek frame against the *wall in a staunch and 'seouremanner. At-the sametime, the arm 25 .vides a complete structurewhich is peculiarly firm and rigid, being formed alonga generally triangular plan. 7 Referring now more particularlyitosthe side- .;ment; In this-form of the invention, the side elementl3 is provided with a T-shaped prong 28 at its upper end, andthe arm 25 7 thereby assure the is provided with a'slot 29 adapted to engage the prong 28. It need hardly be pointed out that the width of the slot 29 is substantially equal to the width of the stem of the T 28, and that the association of the arm is effected by applying the slot 29 in a substantially horizontal direction to the prong 28 and thereupon swinging the arm through 90, either upwardly or downwardly. After this is effected, the cross bar of the T 28 will serve to retain the arm in association with the element 13,. v 1

By the provision f-a separable armof thischaracter, I am enabled to increase the efficiency of'the structure in numerous ways. The element 13 is provided with an opening 22 slightly below the upper end thereof. This opening may be employed inthe same manner as the opening 22 of the previous embodiment, whenever the extension arm 25 is wholly undesirable. At the extreme end of the arm 25 I provide an opening which serves two functions. When thearm is in its upward relationship, the opening 30 is so arranged as to register with'the opening 22 so that a bolt orthe like may be passed through these registering openings and proper vertical positioning of the arm 25. On the other hand, when the arm 25 is arranged in its downward relationship, the opening 30 fulfills the function which the openings 22 and 22 previously fulfilled; and incidentally,the opening 30 will insuch an event be positioned in a further variable relationship with respect to the shelf as a whole. I The latter arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 6, wherein the opening. 30 is designed to receive a screw or the like to attach the device to a wall. In this figure, it will also be observed that the arm 25', provided with an end portion 26, may advantageously be braced against the element 13, as in the previous embodiment, to lend strength to the.

entire structure and to retain the back frame firmly against the wall. In this embodiment, I have found it advantageous to provide the arm 25 with a slight'curvature 31 arranged in such a position as to clear the rivet which March, 1927.

attaches the element 13' to the top element ll of the back frame It will be understoodthat asto certain phases of my invention, the provision of a braceablestructure as shown in Fig. 6, is not essential. For example, the removable arm 25 embod es certain features which are quite inent 13 as shown in this figure. I

It will also be obvious thatvmany changes in the details herein described and illustrated not in a limiting sense.

avmg thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is V A frame shelf comprising a main-frame rigidly braced to rectangularity andembodyindependent from its ability to brace the ole V i c5 these details be interpreted-as illustrative'and ing a top and a bottom bar and opposite side 7 bars, an auxiliary frame embodying side bars pivoted at their lower ends to said bottom bar, I

arms pivoted to the upper en'dsof'the said auxiliary frame sidebars and having hooks at their opposite ends proportioned to hook over the said top bar and form supporting brackets and independent members each having a hook at one end toserve as securing means and each having at its 1 opposite vend means for connecting it with said main frame,

said connecting means being adapted to permit of said member extending electively above said frame as a support and of being reversed to apo'sition below the topof said frame, said hook on each of said members being directed rearwardly with reference to the main frame, whereby when the members aremoved to reversed position, the hook on each member will be engaged between the; member and the correspondlng side wallof V the main frame to serve asan auxiliary brace; In witness whereof, I have signedand sealed this specification th s 24f day of noBEnT E, 

